Russia criticizes US for attempts to undermine Nord Stream 2 pipeline project

The Kremlin said on Wednesday that attempts by the United States to undermine the Russia-backed Nord Stream 2 pipeline project to Germany were an example of unfair competition to derail what it casts as a purely commercial project.

The top U.S. energy diplomat said on Tuesday that European efforts to keep Russia shipping gas through Ukraine after the opening of Nord Stream 2 across the Baltic Sea would be futile and that Russia could not be trusted.

"We don't consider this correct or acceptable for us," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call when asked about Washington's opposition to the project.

(With inputs from agencies.)